Chapter 195 Years in the Making
The candle that had burned all night was now gone.
A car was parked outside a Western-style restaurant. Passersby stopped to glance inside, but no one dared approach.
“You go.”
“No way, you go.”
“Forget it. It’s still early. We can wait...”
“Just get in there and tell the boss!”
The guy who was slapped stepped out of the car and knocked timidly on the restaurant door. He stood flustered under Myron’s severe gaze, gesturing incoherently.
“Something’s come up.”
Myron said coldly, “Speak.”
George stepped in, avoiding the petals strewn on the floor. “Report from Europe, we were hit last night...”
“Was it an extraction?” asked Myron flatly.
“No, it was an assassination attempt,” George reported efficiently. “Adolph was the target. It happened so fast that our guys got hurt and had to pull out. As for Adolph, his fate’s unclear.”
Myron eyed the leftover wax and recalled Luann’s hasty exit after she answered that phone call.
George was caught off guard when Myron asked about Vincenzo. “The old man? Since his global tour wrapped up, he’s been home. That’s about it,” he explained, unsure why Myron was interested.
“Staying put isn’t good for anyone’s health. Have someone take him out to enjoy himself,” Myron suggested meaningfully.
“How soon do you need this done?” George asked.
“A week.”
“Got it. I’ll arrange it right away.”
When Luann arrived, she got the news she expected.
“Ms. Weaver, I’m sorry, but one of the professor’s students picked him up an outing just a few hours ago.”
Luann had anticipated this.
“Tell him to contact me when he returns.”
“Will do, Ms. Weaver.”
She turned and gazed at the trees swaying by the roadside, a rare hint of confusion in her usually clear eyes.
Who was this ‘F’?
Finding no answers, Luann went to see Benjamin, hoping to pry something useful from him.
Benjamin told her everything, leaving no detail out.
“Luann, I suspect ‘F’ has deep ties with RH Auction House. Before the auction started, I discovered RH had an incredibly valuable ‘Pink Star’ scheduled for sale. Oddly, it vanished on the day, and didn’t appear at all. ‘F’ had taken it. If he can silently take something like that from RH... what do you think?”
Luann rested her chin on her hand. “The Pink Star, huh...”
Benjamin nodded and lowered his voice. “Let’s be honest, Luann. RH has been untouchable for years, and nobody dares cause trouble on their turf without backup. I saw the auction house owner treating ‘F’ with the utmost respect. I think ‘F’ might be...”
Luann raised her hand, cutting him off. “I get it.”
Benjamin pursed his lips as he stood behind her.
Luann was smart. She knew all this, even if he hadn’t spelled it out.
Her gaze was deep, her voice barely audible. “‘F’ went through all this trouble to get Vincenzo out of the way. That must mean Vincenzo knows something critical... Something that could expose who ‘F’ really is... Otherwise, there would be no point in doing that.”
A faint noise came from behind them. Benjamin turned and bowed respectfully.
“Head of the family.” He made a slight gesture with his fingers.
Benjamin immediately stepped back to the entrance of the cabin.
Luann didn’t even turn her head, lost in thought.
The side of her face chilled slightly as someone sat beside her, blocking the sunlight.
“Don’t get involved in the ‘F’ business. That Adolph is an idiot.”
Luann looked at him.
His face was unremarkable and emotionless, with eyes as still and indifferent as a dead pond, as if nothing could stir his passion.
His blond hair was loosely tied back, casting a warm golden glow.
“I hadn’t planned on saving him this time.”
Only a fool would offend someone they knew to be dangerous.
The prestige of Booth No. 1 at the RH Club had been uncontested for years.
Any sane person understood that the man running RH was just a front. Someone else was pulling the strings.
Adolph had dug his own grave.
If Luann hadn’t returned and called him personally, he wouldn’t have intervened.
Luann’s red lips curled up in a defiant, mocking smile. Her eyes brimmed with coldness.
“Is it because, to you, the head of the family, Adolph is just a tool to be used?”
The family head frowned slightly, visibly displeased, and reached out his hand.
Benjamin, eyes wide with fear, wanted to step forward to stop him, but hesitated.
But the family head simply tried to press down that mocking smile on Luann’s face with his finger.
“Have you forgotten your manners after four years out there? PDon’t call me ‘head of the family.’ Call me Godfather.”
Luann fixed him with a gaze.
“Don’t you know the answer to that question? I made Adolph. Would he have lived until today without me? I gave him life. Whether I take it back depends on my mood.”
The family head glanced outside the door.
His gaze lingered on Holly for a moment.
“That girl... you met her when I took you to the orphanage for work, and you insisted I adopt her afterward. You want to protect them both. Aren’t you being a little greedy, Luann?”
He leaned in slightly, his aging face coming close to Luann, his eyes conveying barely perceptible affection and indifference.
“I can forgive you for taking it upon yourself to marry that boy from the Curtis family as long as you obey and carry out your tasks on time. I promise you, Adolph and Holly won’t get hurt.”
Luann Weaver enunciated clearly, “Are you threatening me?”
The family head spread his hands and began to count on his fingers, one by one.
“No, I’m simply stating the facts.”
“Piano, racing, finance, design, physics, music, investing...” He rattled off a long list.
“Don’t forget who got you to where you are today, Luann. I’ll admit, you’re the most perfect and brightest child I’ve developed over the years. I don’t want to lose you. So make it a priority to uncover the secrets of the Curtis family and come back to marry into the Williams.”
